Page 60 of Knight Watch

“Okay, it’s a twelve-inch box. I’ve opened what looks like a control panel. There are four wires inside.”

“What colors?”

“Two red, a black, a yellow. Another one goes from the top and is attached to your chair.”

“If you follow the black, where does it lead to?”

Sydney twisted to look, and it disappeared into the side of the box. Shuffling, she gently pulled at another side panel, opening it. “It’s plugged into a gold plate.”

When she looked up, Kingsley was frowning. “Are you sure? That’s impossible. Only a moron would create that type of connection.”

He shot her a couple more questions, and the more he asked, the more she started to panic, seeing the seconds passing by.

“Love, from what you’ve said, I think I know how to disarm it. I could be fucking wrong though.” Gunfire sounded in the background making her jump, but she held his gaze. “The cavalry’s here, but they’ll be too late. There’s still time for you to leave if you throw your weight on that door.”

Sydney shook her head. “Tell me what I need to do.”

He smiled and shook his head. “We need a piece of metal. Slide it under the gold plate. That will cause it to short-circuit, and if you believe in miracles, it will defuse the bomb.”

It didn’t make sense, but she wasn’t about to question the only bomb expert in the room.

Frantically, she searched the room for a thin piece of metal, but apart from the bare concrete, there wasn’t much. The chair was solid wood, and she didn’t have any pins in her hair. She was about to ask Kingsley if he had a belt buckle when an idea flashed through her mind. Immediately, she removed her t-shirt and went to work on her bra.

“Baby, I’m not complaining, but with about a minute to go, we don’t have time for that.”

The man successfully made her laugh during the worst event of her life. “While I’m glad you like seeing me half-naked, I’m trying to get the underwire out so I can save your ass, husband.”

When it dawned on him what she was doing, he whistled. “I married a very clever lady.”

With a final spike of adrenaline and trembling fingers, she finally broke a piece and forced it through the fabric. Immediately, she went under the chair and pushed the thin piece of metal under the plate.

The effect was instantaneous. Smoke rose, and a shock of electricity made her jerk her hand away. Sparks followed, along with a sickening buzzing sound. She backed away and grabbed Kingsley’s tied hand and kissed him

Whatever the next few seconds held, she was with the man she loved, and that was all that mattered. Cupping his bearded cheeks, she touched her forehead to his. “I love you.”

Kingsley’s whisper fanned her lips. “You’re the love of my life, Syd. Never forget that.”

Unable to free him from the shackles, Sydney sat on his lap and hugged him tightly, waiting for the worst to happen.

After a moment, calm returned both outside the room and under the chair.

“Has it been five minutes yet?”

Kingsley kissed her brow. “I’m tempted to believe I’m in heaven with you half-naked in my lap, but as I’m still bound and my ribs are painful as shit, I’m guessing the bomb didn’t go off. We’re alive, babe. You did it.”

“Only because of you. And that means you’re stuck with me for a long time. Not disappointed, I hope?”

He winked, but when he opened his mouth to answer, someone called from beyond the door.

“King! Sydney! Are you in there?”

It was Shane, and when she heard his voice, Sydney slumped in relief.

“You better put your shirt back on, love. I don’t want to have to punch any of the guys because they’ve seen you naked.”

Sydney smiled. “You may have to punch Mason then when he gets out of surgery as he saw me in my bra.”

Kingsley frowned. “I don’t know what to say to that, but I’ll consider it when we get out of here. One thing’s for sure, I promise you that as soon as possible, I’ll worship your body until we can’t stand, and I’ve convinced you to stay with me for the next seventy years or so.”

Tears filling her eyes, Sydney claimed the lips of this incredible man opened and the team came rushing to their rescue.